Almost 25 years now and still there has been no plausible explanation to what exactly transpired in those milliseconds after Lance Klusener called Allan Donald for that single. That tied semi-final gave the world the rush of a lifetime at South Africa’s expense but it was also an epitome of how talent, skill and intent aren’t enough sometimes. And also, the unfairness of life, something Klusener knows best. “We see India, Australia lose tight games as well but no one calls them chokers,” he had told HT before the 2019 World Cup. “To me, it’s a bit of a stupid comment or tag. But at the same time, it’s not going to go away till South Africa wins one of these ICC tournaments.”
So here we are, at another World Cup, ahead of another semi-final. Is it coincidence that more often than not at this stage South Africa run into either New Zealand, or more ominously, Australia? There was 1999, and then 2007, defeats with different margins in different manners, but defeat nevertheless. These are different times too. Australia are far less brusque, far more gracious, but not without their winning edge. This is a more inclusive South Africa too, honest enough to spell out that the stage — and not Australia specifically — triggers the jitters.
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